Steve Ellner's Blog on Venezuela, Latin America and Beyond

The centralization of ownership of the private media in the United States and elsewhere has become increasingly pronounced, at the same time that its reporting has become increasingly one-sided and monolithic. My blog seeks to expose this lack of objectivity and present alternative ideas that point in the direction of much-needed fundamental change.

Sunday, December 20, 2015

HOW IS IT THAT THE CORPORATE MEDIA HAS HILLARY WINNING THE DECEMBER 19 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE?

The analysis coming out
of the corporate media focuses on style and knowledge of the issues. On that
basis the media calls Clinton the “winner” and Bernie Sanders a “loser.” Especially
prominent in the media’s “analysis” is Clinton’s closing statement “May the
Force be with you.”

I happen to like Bernie
Sanders’ sincerity over Hillary Clinton’s polished style, but that is admittedly
subjective. What may be far more important in determining who “won” the debate are
the positions of the candidates on specific issues. Here I believe that Sanders
has it over Clinton. His clear rejection of “regime change” as a driving force
behind foreign policy formulation and his specific reference to Washington’s
responsibility in the disaster following the U.S. –backed overthrow of
Mossadegh in Iran (1953) and Allende twenty years later I think resonates. In
contrast Clinton’s statement that U.S. foreign policy has to combine realpolitik
imperatives with democratic objectives in my opinion was not at all convincing,
and O’Malley’s response that the former, in practice, generally eclipses the
latter I think was well put.

The media has also omitted
any discussion of Sander’s serious proposals including: free public university
education, the single-payer health system (which some surveys indicate is
supported by a majority of U.S. citizens and the media doesn’t seriously touch
with a ten-foot pole), and schemes to tax corporate profit.

My statement on the
media’s evasion of the real issues that are being debated by the Democratic
candidates has one surprising exception. Moderator Martha Raddatz cornered
Clinton on her hawkish position on Libya which led into the current situation
of that nation as a failed state and a haven for the ISIS terrorists. As
Secretary of State she pressured Obama into military action against Gaddafi.

Friday, December 11, 2015

HUGO CHAVEZ’S LEGACY UNDER FIRE

The Venezuelan opposition’s
triumph in the National Assembly elections may bolster its argument with regard
to the unsustainable nature of the policies carried out by the Chavista
governments. Opposition leaders label these policies “cheap populism.” In the
following article published in Jacobin Magazine, I question their analysis on
grounds that it is simplistic and lacking in contextualization: https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/12/venezuela-elections-hugo-chavez-maduro/

About Me

Steve Ellner has taught economic history at the Universidad de Oriente in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela since 1977. He is the author of numerous books and journal and magazine articles on Venezuela history and politics. He frequently lectures on Venezuela and Latin American political developments in the U.S. and elsewhere. He received his Ph.D. in Latin American history at the University of New Mexico in 1980.